CT scan of knee in a candidate for
robot-assisted joint replacement.
Using the robotic arm, surgeons are able to place joint implants accurately within a fraction of a millimeter, said Harvey Smires, MD, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon affiliated with the Jim Craigie Center, a specialized surgical unit at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center (PMC). That level of precision results in greater comfort for the patient and should help to extend the life span of the new joint, Smires said.
“You get enhanced reliability with robot-assisted surgery, which will improve long-term results for each patient,” Smires said. “Many people focus on the short-term. ‘How is it going to feel a week from now?’ But we should be focusing more on how it will feel 20 years from now.”
Joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with metal, ceramic, or hard plastic implants. The procedure is a treatment option for individuals who experience severe pain that interferes with daily activities. The most common reasons for joint replacement include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and bone conditions such as osteonecrosis.
In the past, joint replacement was used predominantly for patients between ages 60 and 80, but today it is considered for younger individuals as well, thanks to refined surgical techniques and technological advances that led to longer-lasting implants. Smires said the robotic technology is being used for total hip, total knee, and partial knee replacement procedures at PMC.
Prior to their robot-assisted procedures, patients undergo CT scans that are used to create 3D images of their unique anatomy. The information is then uploaded to the robot to help the surgeon plan the procedure. The 3D modeling enables the precise placement of the implants and allows the robot to limit the movement of surgical instruments to a pre-designated area.
Harvey Smires, MD
The benefits of robot-assisted joint replacement surgery may include shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, more precise implant positioning, longer lasting implants, faster recovery with less pain, and increased patient satisfaction.
“Robot-assisted surgery is an important tool that we added to an already comprehensive joint replacement program that is a leader in our region,” said James Demetriades, vice president of operations for Penn Medicine Princeton Health, which includes PMC.
In addition to robot-assisted surgery, the Jim Craigie Center also recently began offering outpatient joint replacement procedures, Demetriades said.
The Jim Craigie Center provides a thorough preoperative education program to prepare patients and their families for recovery at home. The center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission for total hip replacement and total knee replacement. In addition, U.S. News & World Report has rated PMC high performing in both hip and knee replacement for three years in a row.
For more information, visit princetonhcs.org/jointreplacementcenter.